Ancient and Strategic Palmyra Seized

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued this statement following reports that ISIS has seized control of Palmyra, Syria just days after ISIS captured Ramadi, Iraq:

“The fall of Ramadi to ISIS one day, the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria days later.  Palmyra residents now face the same terrorists who slaughtered men, women and children as they overran Ramadi.  And while nothing compares to the human suffering ISIS inflicts, the 2000 year-old Hellenistic and Roman ruins in Palmyra are imperiled.  How is it that ISIS is seizing territory on two fronts, ten months after U.S. air strikes began?  It’s dreadfully obvious that we aren’t working well enough to defeat ISIS and protect the people of Palmyra and its precious relics of our shared history.” 

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